Wednesday, March 20, 2013

The Thermals - More Parts Per Million LP - Red Vinyl

When More Parts Per Million came out in 2003, I was doing radio promotion as my day job. We received a package of upcoming releases from Sub Pop and my co workers and I were going through them. Everything sounded OK to me, but nothing was really standing out. Until The Thermals came on. I was immediately drawn to the energy & intensity of their songs. What a lo fi pounding masterpiece of a record. I was completely floored.

The first time I saw The Thermals play was at the Mercury Lounge in NYC, they played to about 8 people, 4 of which were from my office. Back then they were a 4 piece with Hutch only singing. They were so, so great. I just lost it at these shows. I saw them play at MacRock, I saw them play at SXSW, I saw them play every single chance I could. They got better and better every time and the crowds got bigger and bigger as well.

It all started with More Parts Per Million for me. A record that sounds just as fresh and exciting as it did the first time I heard it. The new reissue on Sub Pop sounds great and looks fantastic. Sure, I've had the 1st pressing of the LP forever, but I'm just a sucker for colored vinyl, especially for a record that I love as much as I love this one. If you don't have this record you're a fool, they don't get much better.